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New York Yankees: Creating an all-time starting lineup

By Michael Pallas

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 12: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees grounds out to the shortstop to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 12, 2016 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 12: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees grounds out to the shortstop to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 12, 2016 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 4: Robinson Cano (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 4: Robinson Cano (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Robinson Cano is one of the best offensive second basemen in New York Yankees history. He also played a heck of a second base in the field. From 2005-13, he hit .309/.355/.504 in the games he played second base. He’s the only Yankees second baseman to hit .300/.350/.500 or better. He did that while also compiling a .986 fielding percentage at second. His 607 extra-base hits are good enough for 13th all-time in Yankees history. Cano is worthy of being in this lineup for everything he can do on the diamond.

He also leads all second baseman in franchise history in many new analytical categories as well. He’s in the top ten all-time in not just Yankees history but MLB history in JAWS, and he’s the top second baseman in franchise history in WAR, OPS, and OPS+. The only new analytical factor on defense that hurts his cause is range factor, but he makes up for that offensively.

Cano is the best all-around second baseman in the history of the team and undoubtedly should start. He may be taken out late for defensive purposes, but his bat is needed in the lineup. So, it makes him a must-start over all second basemen in the history of the team.

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